literary

adjective

lit·​er·​ary ˈli-tə-ˌrer-ē How to pronounce literary (audio)
1
a
: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of humane learning or literature
a literary education
a literary institution
b
: bookish sense 2
an essay written in a very literary style
c
: of or relating to books
a literary agent
a literary manuscript
2
a
: well-read
he is literary, given to quoting to himself rather long stretches of remembered linesF. J. Hoffman
b
: of or relating to authors or scholars or to their professions
her literary biographies
literarily adverb
literariness noun

Examples of literary in a Sentence

Do his books have any literary merit? Mystery fiction is only one of many literary forms. an essay written in a very literary style The author uses many literary devices in his work. He entered the literary world right out of college. She hired a literary agent.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The comic is being translated and overseen by Frank Wynne, who for decades has been an award-winning writer and literary translator, but earlier in his career was a comics editor at Fleetway and Deadline magazine. Alex Dueben july 21, Literary Hub, 21 July 2025 For hundreds of years, historians and literary experts have argued over why Chaucer would have mentioned the Song of Wade in his chivalric works. Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 18 July 2025 The Screenplay/Teleplay Award went to Gold Star, a lyrical Southern drama praised for its literary tone and exploration of grief, spiritual inheritance, and womanhood. Shelby Stewart, Essence, 17 July 2025 Smith outlines the critical necessity for a Black feminist literary practice that takes Black women’s experiences, aesthetics, and political conditions as central rather than marginal. The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 17 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for literary

Word History

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of literary was in 1605

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Cite this Entry

“Literary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/literary. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

literary

adjective
lit·​er·​ary ˈlit-ə-ˌrer-ē How to pronounce literary (audio)
1
a
: of or relating to literature
2
: of or relating to writers or writing as a profession
literarily
ˌlit-ə-ˈrer-ə-lē
adverb
literariness
ˈlit-ə-ˌrer-ē-nəs
noun

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